Jim Schwartz: Lions are as optimistic as their fans

It sounds crazy to say this about a team that was 2-10 eight months ago, but there are few teams in the league whose fans are more optimistic than the Detroit Lions.

And in comments that might come as something of a surprise, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said at his press conference today that he both hears that optimism and agrees with it.

“People in Detroit, people around the country are very optimistic about the Lions,” Schwartz said. “Every time you pick up a newspaper you’re reading something, or hearing something on TV, and we’re the same way.”

However, Schwartz hastened to add that the reasons for optimism go out the window if the players allow it to affect their approach.

“It doesn’t change the way we feel, it doesn’t change the way we go about our business,” he said. “That’s why I feel strongly about our team, is our ability to stay focused through stuff like that. That can be distracting for some teams. That can be distracting for some players.”

We’ll see if the Lions’ players are distracted, or if the 2011 version of the team looks more like the 2010 squad that finished the year 4-0 than the 2010 squad that started the year 2-10.

Optimism, yes. But clearly the fans are cautiously optimistic. There are still pieces of the puzzle that must be added, such as secondary help and at least one more quality linebacker. Securing Cliff Avril long term and getting the rookies signed today so that they are in camp ASAP would be a step in the right direction as well.

I hope you guys do well this season. I know how it is to have a sorry team and be able to see them mature and flesh out to a number one seed (Falcon fan here). So I would like to see the lions push through to a winning season, let alone a play off season. They are getting smarter with the players they pick up (Calvin and Best anyone?) Now all they need is a true franchise QB that can get the job done. Knowing my fair share of true Lion fans, I would be happy to see them turn into a full fledged team.

What else is he supposed to say? “We appreciate the optimisim but ask fans to temper it in case we might disappoint.”

scoops1 says:Jul 28, 2011 12:35 PM

the only reason i like Schwartz is cause he is an Iron Maiden fan

suhnami says:Jul 28, 2011 12:36 PM

ampking101 says: Jul 28, 2011 12:10 PM

I hope you guys do well this season. I know how it is to have a sorry team and be able to see them mature and flesh out to a number one seed (Falcon fan here). So I would like to see the lions push through to a winning season, let alone a play off season. They are getting smarter with the players they pick up (Calvin and Best anyone?) Now all they need is a true franchise QB that can get the job done. Knowing my fair share of true Lion fans, I would be happy to see them turn into a full fledged team.

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“Now all they need is a true franchise QB…”

Have you ever watched Stafford? We have a franchise QB, he just needs to stay healthy plain and simple. If he’s under center for all 16 this team has a legit shot at winning the division.

mocheese1921 says:Jul 28, 2011 12:37 PM

every year lions fans get all excited about what their team has done in the offseason and every year they are disappointed.On paper this team looks to be good,but they havn’t even been 8-8 in over ten years.Im still not sure why everyone is so high on stafford either.out of the last 2 seasons he has missed 19 games due to injury.His record in those 13 starts he has is 3-10.

steelers4385 says:Jul 28, 2011 12:40 PM

Calvin johnson is an unstoppale machine. He once blocked a roundhouse kick from chuck norris.

The fact the Lions still have fans should be considered a minor miracle.

steelers4385 says:Jul 28, 2011 1:04 PM

Dallas is a poor excuse for. Football team. Lions got cheated by bears last year’ and held the packers to 3 points after whipping around rodgers and hurting him for game. I think if they did that last year i dnt rlly forsee them having bigger issues in that division this year. Packers wk. Superbowl yes… But barley made playoffs. The bears are so overrated its sickening. God knows how they even got to the nfc championship last year. And mcnabb is only gunna get pouned again by the lions to be replaced by ponder haha. Im happy for the lions because they deserve to be better.

@southcakpanther, Yes, you are completely off topic. Reveling in other’s failure doesn’t make you any better – it only makes you that much worse. Misery loves company is a good way to describe what you just said, and you must be miserable, especially if you are a Panther fan, as your name suggests. If you are a Lion’s fan, the misery bit is also very much understood especially due to the last 20+ years and zero SB’s in the Lion’s legacy, but you have a lot to look forward to. I am not a Lion’s fan, but I am excited to see how this team does with all the talent they have brought in. I think Marion Barber would be a good fit here with Best and the rookie RB Leshoure they drafted. If Stafford can stay upright, he should be good. They are definitely up and coming, and they are a great story. If any city needed a lift, Detroit is it. Maybe the Lions can help in that capacity. Superbowl talk is way to premature this year, but in the next couple of years, it may very well be a reality. It always takes a perfect storm to win it all, but Detroit have had great drafts and continue to make moves that signal they are moving in the right direction.

Have you ever watched Stafford? We have a franchise QB, he just needs to stay healthy plain and simple. If he’s under center for all 16 this team has a legit shot at winning the division.

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I have watched Stafford and yes he is a legit QB, that being said I just can’t see him being the QB to lead the Lions to a ring. I mean I’ll throw in Vick as an example. That man took us to many a playoff, that being said that man was never…I repeat ever going to take us to a SB. Yes Stafford is a better QB than Vick was when he was at the helm of the Falcons however that is his biggest problem for Stafford, he can’t stay healthy plain and simple. That’s the same reason Romo will never get a ring, he can’t stay healthy.

@Steelers4385, still all butt-hurt about last year’s SB loss I see. Dallas is a poor excuse for a football team? You are easily a poor excuse for a hater – you aren’t fooling anybody. Come on – Dallas is only one SB behind your Steelers all-time – perhaps that is why you are so anti-Cowboys? Until JJ got to Dallas, they weren’t nearly as hated. You can hate the owner all you want, and that is pretty obvious that you do, but don’t fault the team because you hate their fans, or for what the owner does, or what the press tries to convince people of every day with regards to the Cowboys. The Steelers are a great team, but their fans can be unequivocal crybabies. That goes for any team, but I don’t dislike the Steelers or any other team because their fans are jerks (well, maybe a couple of teams I do, but not the Steelers). This was supposed to be about the Lions, but it is so true that non-Cowboy fans LOVE to hate the Cowboys. So sad, really, as it is just a complete waste of time and energy to hate on other teams.

“Cowboy fans LOVE to hate the Cowboys. So sad, really, as it is just a complete waste of time and energy to hate on other teams.”

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Yes and no to the first statement. I don’t hate the Cowboys but I dislike them because where I live the state is filled aplenty with ‘Cowboy’ fans that can’t even name 5 players beside Tony Romo and that don’t even watch the games. That being said I’m interested to see what Jason Garret does with the Cowboys.

About the second statement. Completely incorrect. If that were the case what are the point of rivalries? I will forever hate the Saints simply because they are the Falcons biggest rivals. I respect Brees but I don’t like him because he is a Saint. Just like many a true Saint fan hate Ryan. As a Cowboy fan I would think you of all people would understand seeing as the Redskin-Cowboy rivalry is one of the biggest in the NFL.

8man says:Jul 28, 2011 1:36 PM

I’m optimistic and I’m not even a fan.

nard100 says:Jul 28, 2011 2:03 PM

mocheese1921, Thanks for brining some sanity back to this conversation! Let’s be honest, this might as well be the beginning of the regular season for Lions fans. I say that because every year at this time we hear how the Lions are going to do something this time and by the end of September reality sets in. I also love how people talk like Stafford’s being stubborn or irresponsible in his play to end up being unhealthy. That’s a joke! Folks, remember at one point last season, there was talk of using the EMERGENCY qb in a game. Pass rushers are great, but not when you hang ’em out to dry for 40+ minutes a game! Face it, you can’t protect your qb period. Hard to go “16-0” when your punter is hurling the ball ’cause all 3 of your qb’s are down. Optimism is nice, but the Lions have LONG way to go.

klunge says:Jul 28, 2011 3:30 PM

mocheese1921 says:
every year lions fans get all excited about what their team has done in the offseason and every year they are disappointed.On paper this team looks to be good
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No, on FILM the team looks to be good. We fans like what’s on paper, but that isn’t what is swaying most other fans, analysts, writers, and even other teams to respect what’s going down in Motown.